Taking a Knife to a Gun Fight

Yesterday was Mark's first day back on the job this year. He's fully booked for today and tomorrow and we've already booked two for next week, so it's a really great start to the year!

Yesterday afternoon's client initially had her brother call to get information and I sent him an email with a sample report, a document that outlines what we inspect, video links to actual inspections, and our standard pricing. I guess she wanted to make sure the Angie's List deal was really a deal (it is!) and not just our standard pricing masquerading as a "deal".

As I was taking down her details, I asked if she was working with an an agent. She said no and gave me the details for the listing agent. People who've decided to go it alone without an agent are in the minority, but they're out there. I don't question them.

When Mark got home I asked him (as I almost always do) "How was it?"

"It was awful. It was terrible. The sewer was shot. The roof was shot. Of course, I didn't use that language with the client because it can all be fixed and it's not my job to frighten them. But she hasn't got an agent. The house has been done up on the inside and the listing agent is also the seller. She really needs someone to negotiate for her. There's a bunch of stuff called out in the report, but not having a skilled negotiator who knows what the property is worth and what it will cost to put it all right is like taking a knife to a gun fight."

It is. At least she'd done her research on Angie's List and got a thorough inspection. The inspection report is a powerful weapon in the hands of a skilled negotiator. At best the buyer will be able to get a combination of repairs and price adjustments. The worst that can happen is the buyer is prevented from buying the money pit because the seller wants to hold out and wait for the uninformed buyer who won't bother with an inspection.

Mark did explain to her that commissions are typically paid by the seller and that having an agent would save her money in the long run. He even gave her the name of an agent who specializes in the area and knows what it takes (and who it takes) to get repairs done on the type of home she was looking at. I do hope she makes that call.